working with promising writers
—in between the lines—
captivating them with their own words
under-aged over-qualified writers using language with such dexterity— agility— humor—— at times the words themselves don't know what to expect and next thing you know— you find you're counting syllables as our way with words begins to rub off onto your fingertips—you've got newsprint writers on your hands....

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Cinderella was a poor girl. Infact, she was a maid. She worked for a small family. They treated her very badly. There were three girls and a mean mother. The girls names were Flower, Star and Rose. Cinderella we need our mail said Flower, Star and Rose. I’m coming. There you go. As Star read the mail it said Ball is tomorrow and she ran to her mom and said mother the Ball is tomorrow. Then get dressed said the mother. That night Cinderella made a dress. In the afternoon she was all set. When Star, Rose and Flower saw her dress they started ripping it apart. Cinderella was so sad she ran to the backyard. As she was crying she saw an old woman. Who are you asked Cinderella? I’m your Fairy Godmother. Do u want to go to the ball? Yes. And before Cinderella new it she had a big blue dress on. Thank you Fairy Godmother! Now we need a carriage. That pumpkin will do. Now you are ready to go to the ball. And Cinderella be back by twelve o’clock ok? Goodbye. Before Cinderella knew it she was there. And when the prince saw her he said do u want to dance? Yes said Cinderella. They danced the whole night long. And before Cinderella knew it it was twelve o’clock. I’ve got got to go said Cinderella and as she was running her glass shoe fell off. And she got into the carriage and left. When she got to the house she went straight to bed but the Prince said I need to find that girl. He thought and he thought and he said I will go to each house and see if the girl fit the size twelve shoe. I’ll start tomorrow. And he started when he got to Cinderella’s house he said do you fit in a size twelve shoe? No said Flower, Star, and Rose at the same time. I do said Cinderella in a soft voice. It fits said the Prince. The next day they got married. And that’s the story of Cinderella! By Pyper

Ok! Now it’s your turn, write some six-word stories and share them with Writing from the Rooftops as a comment, we’d love to read them and post some of your sixwords!!!

lots of words--

(abby)pyper!:: c ::

By the way......

In case you were wondering where we got the idea to do six-word stories, the original six-word story was written by the famous writer Ernest Hemingway, it is said that he thought this was the best story he ever wrote. This is his story:

Friday, July 10, 2009

We also wrote some six-word adaptations of The Wizard of Oz {another story Pyper has written and will share with you soon: The Wizard of Oz from a monkey’s point of view!}

Here are some of our six-word stories :: down the yellow road of bricks ::

Ruby shoes click on yellow bricks.:: c ::.

Dorothy was nice to her friends.::pyper!

.

Yellow, red, shoes, bricks all around..........(abby)

.

This story, your little dog too...:: c ::

.

Ok your turn write some six-word stories and you can share them as a comment...we’d love to read them and post some of your sixwords!!!Too bad you can't join our meetings at the cafe......

write--write--write--(abby)pyper!:: c ::

By the way......In case you were wondering where we got the idea to do six-word stories, the original six-word story was written by the famous writer Ernest Hemingway, it is said that he thought this was the best story he ever wrote. This is his story:

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Today we wrote six-word stories while sitting in our cafe. Pyper {Abby's 4th-grade sister and our newest rooftop writer} joined us and shared an abridged {shortened} adaptation of Cinderella that she'd written {she is typing it up as we speak and will post it here very soon} and then we challenged ourselves to write even shorter versions of Cinderella: Cinderella in six words, to be exact!

Pyper groaned and looked at me like "you've gotta be kidding me" and Abby who is used to my crazy challenges just had a big smile on her face as she watched her little sister's shock. But then Pyper was struck with sudden inspiration and we all got to work!

I cannot find my shoe!(abby){technically 5 words, but.........so good! and it actually happenedAbby lost her shoe as she was writingthese stories! lol isn’t that appropriate?!}.

Ok! Now it’s your turn, write some six-word stories and share them with Writing from the Rooftops as a comment, we’d love to read them and post some of your sixwords!!!

write soon!

(abby)pyper!:: c ::

By the way......

In case you were wondering where we got the idea to do six-word stories, the original six-word story was written by the famous writer Ernest Hemingway, it is said that he thought this was the best story he ever wrote. This is his story:

Thursday, July 2, 2009

That Friday at Princess Training was their dance they had been learning. They wore dragging pink dresses, and they had ballet shoes on. All the parents came to watch. The dance was so good! At the end all the parents screamed and clapped so loud. After winter came, it got colder so it was winter break! Katy, Max and Pinky loved playing in the snow! They made snowmen, snow forts for snowball fights and they made snow angels!! They loved winter, because their birthday was the 20th of December! They had their 3rd, 4th and 5th balls that winter. And who knows what’s next. To be continued ……………

writing from any angle

writing from the rooftops

passing on inspiration

you've got newsprint writers on your hands

making something of nothing— scribbling words spilling coffee cleaning up my messes scribbling coffee spilling poetry on napkins—
from behind big dark sunglasses and chronic migraines, good coffee gone cold and the hours, the hours where do they— i write. leaving traces of haiku on scraps of paper everywhere i go and working with promising writers— captivating them with their own words.
i read read read (despite the fact i'm a slow reader) and i'd say a good 75% of those books are picture books (ya, kids' books, whatever) and if i catch you standing there i'll start reading one to you, i believe every adult needs a good dose of children's lit every day. a picture book can turn around your entire perspective, make you laugh, and the pictures are just too good!
...in fact, i dabbled in the trade myself way back when (a year or so after this photo of me was taken, i do believe).
and since my 1st grade debut stories ‘how to make a peanut butter and tuna fish sandwich’ and ‘i hate saturday morning cartoons’ i’ve had words at my fingertips and now, they're at yours—
c

"write on the sole of my shoe"

robert frost

newsprint writers

under-aged over-qualified writers using language with such dexterity— agility— humor—— at times the words themselves don't know what to expect and next thing you know— you find you're counting syllables as our way with words begins to rub off onto your fingertips—you've got newsprint writers on your hands....

Cultivating an agility to write the words that always moved you...for words

Instruction and guidance is based off of a reflection of each individual's personality, ability, interests etc.. and customized, down to the last syllable, to best fit the particular needs of every writer. A relationship and ease with words will lead to confidence and agility in communicative, creative and academic endeavors. The spark that ignites it-- the initial passion, fluency and rapport with words-- is what we seek when writing from the rooftops.

but petals keep falling from this-- [six words]

writing poems on flowers

inspiring young writers through their own words

Writing from the Rooftops

Every individual session is custom designed to best fit the needs of each child-- with expressive tools from technology, internet and new media to syllable, pencil and lined notebook paper.

A relationship with words and ease with writing will lead to confidence and agility in communicative, creative and academic endeavors. The spark that ignites it-- the initial passion, fluency and rapport with words-- is what we seek when writing from the rooftops.

words words words

wonderland

we ♥ haiku

by alexis rotella

just 17 little syllables....

haiku.

Introducing Olivia.

Otherwise known as *O*Olivia is so cool she loves to write poems and loves to hang with friends! Olivia is really fun to be around. Olivia loves all animals and is happy to just be a friend to almost anyone. Olivia Loves to help people feel good and not be sad. Olivia says “If you are sad find a good friend and have a nice talk.”

by (abby)

more about (abby)

It is more about me. Well I like to dance, play soccer, and love to write all the time.I like to and write haiku, poems, six word stories and just stories about different things.At home I like to hang out with my parents and three siblings, Taylor my oldest bother, Alec my other brother, and my little sister Pyper and Gracie my dog. I’m in seventh grade and twelve years old. Well you probably know a lot a about me now.

p.s. abby in six words {by c}

in words, stories, life—pink princess.

pyper's world in black and white

pyper's world : in black and white

pyper is currently writing her intro for you.... but i just wanted to tell you one thing about her. ok, maybe two things. the other day she told me that when she grows up she wants to be a professional soccer player and professional dancer. both! isn't that great!? that just gives you a taste of how much energy she has and how different her passions are. and another thing-- watch out for her six word stories-- they are so much fun!

Reading Raquel's Files

We have a new Rooftoper named Raquel. She loves to read, she tells a great story and talks up a storm...... but there's just one thing that's-- well-- that's gonna shock you about her-- she hates to write. I know. So Raquel will be _______ from the rooftops with us. And I bet you're wondering how you're going to be able to share in the goodness of her stories if she won't write them down. I've been asking myself the same question. Let me ask her and I'll get back to you with the answer to this puzzling dilemma. But anyway, we welcome her and look forward to all her stories. She has files and files of real life adventures stored in the computer of her mind!

Introducing Peyton

Peyton joins us with her first story for Writing from the Rooftops, the story is called Crack! Ouch! It's funny and dramatic and you can read it here! Read more about Peyton very soon....